A look at Iona's Non-League schedule

Non-league schedules for conference teams are being released, and we'll pass those along to you as they come in.

Here's the non-league schedule for the Iona men's team. ..

The Gaels open up with a 3-game/3-day appearance at the World Vision Classic hosted by Cleveland State on Nov. 12, 13 and 14. They play Kent State on the 12th, Bryant on the 13th and Cleveland State on the 14th.

Iona hosts non-league games on Nov. 18 (Richmond), Dec. 11 (Fairleigh Dickinson), Dec. 22 (Vermont) and Dec. 29 (Hofstra).

It plays away games on Nov. 23 (at the University at Albany), Nov. 30 (Norfolk State, Virginia), Dec. 8 (LIU), Dec. 18 (Syracuse), and in a "BracketBusters" game against a to-be-determined appointment on either Feb. 18 or 19.

No times have yet been set for those games.

Game-by-Game Insight:

- Kent State: Picked 3rd in the Mid American Conference (by The Sporting News' College Basketball Preview Issue). Has 11 20-victory seasons in the last 12 years. Finished 24-10 last season). Best players: 6-8 forward Justin Greene (13.6 points, 6.9 rebounds last season), 6-2 guard Rodriguez Sherman (10.6 points).

-Bryant: Picked to finish 12th in the 12-team Northeast Conference. Recently moved up from Division II and still two years away from being eligible to qualify for the NCAA tournament. Finished 1-29 overall last season. Best player: 6-8 sophomore Vladyslav Kondratyev (8.9 points).

- Cleveland State: Picked to finish 6th in the 10-team Horizon League. Finished 16-17 overall last season. Best Player: 6-2 senior point guard Norris Cole (16.3 ppg., 4.8 assists last season).

- Richmond: Picked for 4th in the 14-team Atlantic 10 Conference. Finished 26-9 last season. Best player: 6-0 senior guard Kevin Anderson (17.8 ppg.), who was named the A-10's Player of the Year last season.

- UAlbany: Picked to finish 8th in the 9-team America East Conference. Finished 7-25 last season. Best Player: 6-0 senior guard Tim Ambrose (12.4 ppg.).

- LIU: Picked to finish 2nd in the 12-team Northeast Conference. Finished 14-17 last season. Has four returning starters. Best Player: Senior guard Kyle Johnson (11.5 ppg.) and forward Kenny Onyechi (league-best 2.1 blocks per game).

- FDU: Picked to finish 8th in the 12-team NEC. Finished 11-21 last season and lost its top scorer and top rebounder to graduation. Top Player: Senior guard Mike Scott (12.6 points, 5.4 assists).

- Syracuse: Picked to win the 16-team Big East Conference. Finished 30-5 last season, but lost forward Wesley Johnson to the NBA. Top Players: 6-7 junior forward Kris Joseph (10.8 points, 5.5 rebounds), who was the Big East's Sixth Man of the Year last season. Also, 6-9 senior forward Rick Jackson (9.7 points, 8.0 rebounds) and 6-4 sophomore Brandon Triche (8.1 points).

- Vermont: Picked to finish 4th in the 9-team America East. Finished 25-10 last season, but graduated top player forward Mike Blakely and three other starters. Best Players: 6-8 senior forward Evan Fjeld (10.7 points, 6.1 rebounds) and 6-8 junior forward Matt Glass, a transfer from UMass where he made 28-of-63 3-point attempts in the 2008-09 season, getting 84 of the 102 points he scored that season from beyond the bonus stripe.

- Hofstra: Picked to finish 7th in the 12-team Colonial Athletic Association. Finished 19-15 last season. This game would have been more attractive had former Iona coach Tim Welsh been at the helm of the Pride. Instead, several weeks after his hiring by Hofstra Welsh resigned after a a DWI arrest. Best Player: Senior guard Charles Jenkins (20.6 points), the CAA's Player of the Year lasat season.